Boston Bruins: Top 3 impact players to watch on the Devils

Jack Hughes

One of the upsides of a bad season is an increased chance at a top draft pick. The Devils took full advantage and won the 2019 NHL Draft lottery.

With the first overall pick, New Jersey surprised nobody and took Jack Hughes.

Hughes is one of the NHL’s next superstars. He has the potential to be a dominant offensive talent for the next decade.

Hughes is an explosive skater who already is one of the fastest players in the league. Unlike most players, he doesn’t lose much speed with the puck on his stick.

Although he’s only a teenager, Hughes also displays incredible vision. He has a knack for finding teammates in dangerous spots in the offensive zone.

If Hughes has a weakness, it’s his size and strength. He isn’t quite ready to handle some of the NHL’s bigger and stronger defenders. At the same time, Hughes is inexperienced, so he hasn’t learned how to properly use his body.

Hughes didn’t have the best start to his rookie season. He doesn’t have any points in his first four games. He also lost over 60% of his faceoffs.

This game marks the first time the Boston Bruins face Hughes. As such, it’s not totally clear how Bruce Cassidy will match up against Hughes.

Hughes centers New Jersey’s third line, so he’ll likely draw Matt Grzelcyk and Connor Clifton. Both players skate well, so they should be able to handle Hughes.

Where Hughes can be really dangerous is on the power play. He can take advantage of the extra space on the ice. The Boston Bruins therefore need to avoid any costly penalties.

The Devils have a plethora of talented players on the roster, so they present an intriguing matchup for Boston. New Jersey has yet to put it all together, but the Bruins still need to be careful. If they are, the Bruins should be the favorites to win their home opener.